Patricia M. Harvey

Patricia “Pat” M. Harvey died peacefully on March 7, 2020, at the age of 93. Pat was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 3, 1926. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Michael Meany and Ida Meyering; her older sister Marie M. Christerson; and her older brother, Edward (“Bud”) Meany. Pat is survived by her 11 children: Jerome (Liza), Michael (Lyn), David (Mikki), Barbara (Jay), Donna, Janice (Patrick), Brian (Shaunde), Mary Ann (René), Frank, Eileen (Carlos), and Patricia – along with 24 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pat grew up in the North Shore Chicago area of Wilmette and Winnetka, and graduated from New Trier High School in 1944. In 1948, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Liberal Arts and Philosophy from Mundelein College, now part of Loyola University Chicago.

Pat was athletic and an avid swimmer. In fact, she served as a Lake Michigan lifeguard – a role traditionally dominated by men during that era. However, the majority of young men were away serving in WWII, so Pat and a few other strong young women of that Greatest Generation were selected to fill the important and physically challenging role. She would later become a certified Water Safety Instructor who taught many children in the neighborhood to swim.

After a first-date walk to the neighborhood ice cream shop, she fell in love and eventually married David E. Harvey in 1950. She later joked about that being one of the most expensive ice cream cones Dave had ever bought, considering it eventually led to 11 children! After their first child Jerome was born, they embarked on a new life by moving in 1952 to Houston, Texas. The city greeted them with wide open spaces and rich potential for new construction. Later, construction would become her husband’s field of expertise as he founded Harvey Construction Company (now Harvey Builders) and added a multitude of buildings to the Houston skyline.

Pat was a talented artist, especially with portrait work, but she never pursued her art to its full extent because of the tremendous time and effort required in raising a family – her children became her ultimate artwork. She was, however, a docent with the Houston Museum of Fine Arts for a period of time and brought art history lessons to many school children across the city. She was also a voracious reader known to discuss topics on a broad range of subjects, frequently including historical, religious, or philosophical perspectives.

Mostly, Pat poured her heart and soul into motherhood. She fostered a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm in her children as she emphasized the importance of education in opening doors for them. She was a Girl Scouts leader, instilling leadership and a love of nature in her daughters. And she was the steady and consistent port in a storm, there for her children when they walked in the door after school every day and as they sat down as a family every night for dinner. For her and her husband Dave, life completely revolved around family. They emphasized their values of faith, education, and fidelity to one another and family. She was definitely a disciplinarian but always with a loving heart. And she was extremely resourceful – especially as it involved problem solving on behalf of her husband and children. She was a fierce protector of her own children but had a soft spot for the underdog. Thus, she taught her children to always stick up and protect those who were less fortunate or might be bullied.

As a lover of the arts, Pat enjoyed musicals, classical music, and poetry and would often recite passages to her children. One of her favorites was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Psalm of Life.” She emphasized key passages of this poem as she woke her children on sleepy Saturday mornings to remind them that “life is real, life is earnest” and “the soul is dead that slumbers.” Adding that they should be “up and doing with a heart for any fate,” as she rolled up the window shades for the sun to spill into her teenage children’s squinting eyes.

Pat was also enthusiastic in her love of grammar, vocabulary, and the English language, including all of its Latin derivatives. She was often seen working the weekend crossword puzzles – in pen! And she was intently practical – while others decorated with superfluous coffee-table knick knacks, she was well known for keeping two giant World Book Dictionaries (A-K and L-Z) on a pedestal table in the family living room. Every time one of her children would ask the meaning of a word, she would point to the living room and tell them to go look it up. The dog-eared pages of those books showed a lifetime of learning.

Sadly though, Alzheimer’s would cruelly and deeply etch her beautiful mind, which was difficult for her family to witness. They say that memories are what give us a sense of ourselves and, without them, we are lost. But, in spite of this illness that stole so many of her precious memories, Pat never lost a sense of who she was. She stayed true to her values, her faith, and especially her children. Because of that, she leaves this world a better place with a legacy of well-mannered, well-spoken, and kind children who were taught to never think small and never be selfish, always err on the side of generosity, and face life head-on with an open and earnest heart. As her favorite Longfellow poem implores, to be up and doing, achieving, pursuing, and to be heroes in strife. She modeled these attributes, showing her children what they looked like in action. Throughout her life, she exhibited an endless capacity for love and faith in humanity. And life met her with the same. Her children feel extremely blessed to have had this fierce, loving matriarch at their back, pushing them forward, pushing them to always be better. They honor her legacy as they carry these values forward in their lives.

Finally, Pat was devoted to her husband Dave. The family is comforted by the knowledge that their parents are finally reunited and sharing the love they knew so well for 56 years.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Catalina “Cathy” Solano and Tairimairi Fregoso for all of the love and tireless support they gave Pat over the last 16 years. The family would also like to thank ABC Caregivers for their support and Rose Champion for her long-time service in beautifully cutting and styling Pat’s hair for the last 35-plus years.

Serving as pallbearers will be Pat’s grandchildren: James Harvey, Chris Harvey, Andy Cullather, Megan Collum, Danny Holley, Lance Harvey, David Harvey, Tony Cullather, Lainey Collum, Katie Cullather, Eileen Rahman and Sarah Harvey. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles (“Charlie”) A. Brown Jr., Joseph (“Joe”) A. Cleary Jr., Eugene (“Gene”) Reed, and Gerald (“Jerry”) D. Hines.

Friends are cordially invited to a vigil and visitation with the family from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, in the Jasek Chapel and pavilion of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at 7:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14th, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive in Houston, where Msgr. Jim Anderson will serve as celebrant.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and share remembrances during a reception in the nearby community center until 1 p.m., after which time the family will depart for a private burial at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.